Method for managing at least one capability characteristic of a switching system of a telecommunication network

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and device for managing at least one capability characteristic (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ), which is subject to license or for managing at least one group (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of capability characteristics (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ) which are subject to license, of a switching system of a telecommunications network. According to the invention, at least one use counter (C, E 1 , E 2 ) at a time is assigned to the at least one capability (characteristic (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ) and/or to the at least one group (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of capability characteristics (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ). Said use counter indicates the current number of uses of the capability characteristic (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ) or of the at least one group (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of capability characteristics (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ).

DESCRIPTION

[0001] Method for managing at least one or capability characteristic ofa switching system of a telecommunications network

[0002] The invention relates to a method for managing at least onecapability characteristic which is subject to a license or a least onegroup of capability characteristics which is subject to a license of aswitching system of a telecommunications network.

[0003] The invention also relates to a switching system of atelecommunications network, whereby in the switching system at least onecapability characteristic which is subject to a license and/or at leastone group of capability characteristics which is subject to a licenseare implemented and the switching system is arranged so that at leastone capability characteristic which is subject to a license and/or atleast one group of capability characteristics subject to a license canbe managed.

[0004] The manufacturers of switching systems wishing to supply and selltheir systems worldwide must arrange their systems so that they can beflexibly adapted to customer-specific special requirements. Suchadaptations are for example necessary to adapt the switching systemsoptimally to the network hierarchies of different network operators andenable them to be parameterized for different specific tasks. Often itis also necessary to adapt the exchanges to different national networksignaling systems. Above and beyond this, exchange operators often havedifferent ideas and requirements with regard to the capabilitycharacteristics that they want to offer their subscribers.

[0005] For the reasons just mentioned well known switching systems, forexample the EWSD and SURPASS switching systems from Siemens AG arestructured so that they are easily adaptable to special features or tospecial requirements. These switching systems are specially arranged intheir software for this purpose and contain at least a greater number ofcapability characteristics than the network providers wish to offertheir customers.

[0006] Capability characteristics in this document are taken to meannetwork capability characteristics and subscriber capabilitycharacteristics.

[0007] Network capability characteristics are for example the dynamicthinning out of traffic for mass calls, such as for tele dialog surveys,known as TED surveys for short. TED surveys make it possible for radiolisteners or TV viewers to take part in opinion polls by telephone,which can then be immediately analyzed. With TED surveys the callerreaches a special directory number via a uniform prefix number thatcorresponds to their desired option. To prevent network overloadingduring TED surveys, the calls are no longer submitted to the TEDdestination address after a pre-specified number of TED calls isreached.

[0008] Another example for a network capability characteristic is theblocking of specific destinations on network overload.

[0009] Subscriber capability characteristics are taken to meanfunctionalities that can be made available to telecommunicationsterminals from the switching systems side. These capabilitycharacteristics can be service-independent and offer additionalfunctions which for example facilitate and simplify the operation of theterminal. Subscriber capability characteristics can also add to servicefeatures. For telephones transfer, automatic ringback or call forwardingrepresent capability characteristics.

[0010] Naturally it is not in the in chess of the switching systemmanufacturers to enable the network providers to use all capabilitycharacteristics and combinations of capability characteristics unlessthey buy or obtain a license to use these capability characteristics.

[0011] Thus it is desirable on the part of the switching systemmanufacturer either only to enable the capability characteristicsavailable in the relevant switching system in accordance with anegotiated license scope or to enable all capability characteristics andto apply license fees in accordance with their actual usage.

[0012] With switching systems reseller characteristics can also besupported. This function allows a number of network operators to share aswitching facility and enables them to supply their relevant subscribersindividually with capability characteristics. Here too it is desirablethat either type and scope of the usable capability characteristics canbe restricted by the switching system operator in to his various networkoperators in accordance with the license scope negotiated or that thecapability characteristics that are implemented in the switching systemare enabled and license fees are charged in accordance with their actualuse.

[0013] The object of the invention is to create a way that allows theuse volumes subject to a license of the capability characteristicsimplemented in a switching system to be optimally adapted to practicalrequirements and thus to increase the cost effectiveness of theswitching system.

[0014] This task is resolved by a method of the type mentioned at thebeginning such that at least one capability characteristic subject to alicense and/or at least one group of capability characteristics subjectto a license are each assigned at least one use counter which specifiesthe current number of uses of the capability characteristic or of thegroup of capability characteristics.

[0015] This solution allows a switching systems manufacturer toconcurrently monitor licenses of all capability characteristics which issubject to a license.

[0016] If there is no intention on the part of the manufacturer toenable all capability characteristics on an restricted basis, anadvantageous variant of the invention consists of the use counter beingcompared with at least one threshold value, and when this thresholdvalue is exceeded by the use counter, no further uses of this capabilitycharacteristic and/or group of capability characteristics being allowed.

[0017] It is also of advantage if the threshold value is compared with acapacity value which specifies the physically maximum possible number ofuses of the capability characteristic and/or the group of capabilitycharacteristics in the switching system.

[0018] Advantageously the current value of the use counter and/orinformation on the capability characteristic assigned to the use counterand/or the group of capability characteristics assigned to the usecounter within the switching system is created in the form of data.

[0019] If the capability characteristic is released on an unrestrictedbasis, license monitoring using periodic spot checks can be implemented;this is done by buffering the data within the switching system atspecified intervals.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention a data table iscreated from the data.

[0021] For further evaluation by the manufacturer or exchange operatorthe data can be dumped to an external storage medium.

[0022] Another option of transferring the data to the manufacturer or tothe exchange operator comprises exchanging the dump to data between theswitching system and a telecommunications terminal via a data link.

[0023] To implement the method in accordance with the invention aswitching system of the type mentioned at the beginning is particularlysuitable in which at least one capability characteristic subject to alicense and/or at least one group of capability characteristics subjectto a license are each assigned at least one use counter in the exchangewhich specifies the current number of uses of at least one capabilitycharacteristic subject to a license and/or at least one a group ofcapability characteristics subject to a license.

[0024] With concurrent license monitoring it is useful for the switchingsystem to be set up to compare the use counter with the least onethreshold value and, if this threshold value is exceeded by the usecounter, not to allow any further uses of the associated capabilitycharacteristic and/or the group of capability characteristics.

[0025] Furthermore, for the form of embodiment of the invention justmentioned it is of advantage if the switching system is designed tocompare the threshold value with a capacity value that specifies thephysically maximum possible use number of at least one capabilitycharacteristic which is subject to a license and/or at least one groupof capability characteristics which is subject to a license.

[0026] Preferably the switching system is arranged to generate thecurrent value of the use counter and/or information about the capabilitycharacteristic assigned to the use counter and/or the group ofcapability characteristics assigned to the use counter in the form ofdata.

[0027] If at least one capability characteristic subject to a license orat least one group of capability characteristics subject to a licenseare released without restriction, license monitoring can be undertakenon the basis of periodic spot checks; for this purpose the switchingsystem is designed to buffer the data at specified intervals.

[0028] To facilitate the further analysis of the data, the switchingsystem is arranged to generate a data table from the data.

[0029] Advantageously the switching system is arranged in such a way asto transfer the data onto an external storage medium.

[0030] For convenience the exchange is arranged to transmit the storeddata to a telecommunications terminal over a data connection.

[0031] The invention, along with further advantages is explained in moredetail below using a number of non-restrictive exemplary embodimentswhich are shown in the drawing. The following are shown schematically inthe figures:

[0032]FIG. 1. a telecommunications network with a first variant of aswitching system used in conjunction with the invention

[0033]FIG. 2. a first variants of a data table created in conjunctionwith the invention with capability characteristics and their assignedcounters

[0034]FIG. 3. the telecommunications network from FIG. 1 with atelecommunications terminal and a second variant of a switching systemused in conjunction with the invention and

[0035]FIG. 4. a second variant of the data table from FIG. 2.

[0036] In accordance with FIG. 1 an Exchange VER used in conjunctionwith the invention features a memory SPR in which there is provision fora database DAT which can contain the data of all subscribers, networkoperators, exchange operators and capability characteristics.Advantageously the database DAT is based on a semi-permanent database,i.e. it has a backup copy on a hard disk of the switching system VER toallow it to be restored if necessary, but can be changed during ongoingoperation.

[0037] Each capability characteristic subject to a license can beassigned the use counter in the exchange VER. This counter specifies thecurrent number of uses of a licensed capability characteristic or of alicensed group of capability characteristics by an exchange operator.

[0038] For concurrent license monitoring, the number of current uses ofa capability characteristic subject to a license and, as described inmore detail below, further information, for example in the form of thetable TAB, is included.

[0039] In accordance with FIG. 2 each capability characteristic F1, F2,F3 in the table TAB is assigned a use counter C. This counters specifiesthe current number of uses of a licensed capability characteristic F1,F2, F3 or of the group G1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics F1, F2,F3 by an exchange operator.

[0040] The creation, i.e. making a capability characteristic F1, F2, F3usable for a subscriber or a network operator is subject to a license,but not the actual use in a sense of a use of capability characteristicF1, F2, F3 or group G1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics F1, F2, F3by a subscriber or network operator. The current number of uses of acapability characteristic F1, F2, F3 or group G1, G2, G3 of capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3 is thus taken to mean in this document thenumber of created, i.e. usable capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 orgroups G1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics F1, F2, F3.

[0041] The actual use of these capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 orgroups G1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 bysubscribers or network operators is by contrast not recorded.

[0042] In other words the use counter C specifies the number of createdcapability characteristics F1, F2, F3 which is subject to a license inthe switching system VER.

[0043] The obvious choice is to group service features F1, F2, F3 whichhave already found a high level of market acceptance and in many marketshave almost or actually become standard capability characteristics, suchas the “Standard” or “Komfort” ISDN service features offered by DeutscheTelekom, into groups G1, G2, G3. New or very complex capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3, which are only offered individually on themarket are licensed as individual capability characteristics F1, F2, F3.

[0044] If a subscriber or in network operator wishes to use a capabilitycharacteristic F1, F2, F3, it is usually necessary to create thiscapability characteristic F1, F2, F3 in the switching system of theTelecommunications Network to which the subscriber belongs for thissubscriber or network operator. The request to create this subscribercapability characteristic F1, F2, F3 is usually made by a correspondingapplication on the part of the subscriber or network operator. Thisapplication can be made in writing to the switching system operator whothen undertakes to create the corresponding capability characteristicF1, F2, F3.

[0045] To create a capability characteristic F1, F2, F3 for a subscriberor a network operator a special command can be provided by the exchangeoperator, for example “CREATE”. Likewise, to delete a capabilitycharacteristic F1, F2, F3 for a subscriber, a command, for example“DELETE”, can be provided on the exchange operator side.

[0046] Typically, as already explained above, the subscriber and networkoperator data are stored in a database of the switching system.

[0047] A command to create a capability characteristic F1, F2, F3 or agroup G1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 for asubscriber or network operator causes a corresponding entry to be madein the area of the database that is assigned to this subscriber ornetwork operator, for example in the form of a variable which isassigned to a specific capability characteristic F1, F2, F3 or a groupG1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics F1, F2, F3.

[0048] The use counter C mentioned above can adjust itself automaticallyin the exchange VER. Each create command that allocates a capabilitycharacteristic F1, F2, F3 to a subscriber or a network operatorincrements the use counter C of the corresponding capabilitycharacteristic F1, F2, F3 or of the group G1, G2, G3 of capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3. Each deletion command that deletes acapability characteristic F1, F2, F3 for a subscriber or networkoperator again decrements the use counter C accordingly. To implementthe incrementation or decrementation of use counter C a program can beprovided that is started by the deletion or creation command.

[0049] Each capability characteristic F1, F2, F3 can be assigned furthervalues or counters.

[0050] Thus a capacity value A gives the maximum usable number of therelevant capability characteristic F1, F2, F3 which is produced from thecurrent memory and database configuration of the exchange. The capacityvalue A is computed automatically by the exchange in accordance with thecurrent memory and database configuration and automatically adjustsitself after memory or database expansions during operation. Thiscapacity value A is designated as the capacity threshold and basicallyfunctions as a threshold value for the service personnel to define themaximum extent of any increase in the number of licensed capabilitycharacteristics F undertaken during operation, before the memory ordatabase has to be expanded.

[0051] The capacity value A can be obtained as the result of ageneration run of an office data generation programs used in therelevant exchange. These types of program are normally used to calculatethe available memory capacity for switching systems and are known toexperts.

[0052] The threshold value B specifies the maximum licensed use numberof the relevant capability characteristic F for the exchange operator.This threshold value represents a license threshold for capabilitycharacteristic F. When the value of use counter C exceeds this licensethreshold any further creation command for this capabilitycharacteristic F is rejected. When the license threshold is reached inthe capability characteristic use further capacity can be obtained forcustomers by deleting capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 or groupsG1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics to enable these capabilitycharacteristics F to be assigned to other customers. If the demand forcapability characteristics F1, F2, F3 is so great that not enough newcapacity can be created to satisfy demand for customers by removingcreated capability characteristics F1, F2, F3, the exchange operatormust have the license increased by the manufacturer.

[0053] Threshold values B can advantageous the modified from themanufacturer's side. Such changes can be made during operation by theservice personnel of the manufacturer in accordance with the licensescope negotiated with the relevant exchange operator.

[0054] To avoid misuse by the exchange operator or third parties, themodifications can be made under password protection. This typicallyinvolves using passwords that dynamically/automatically change inaccordance with an algorithm known on the manufacturer side. Thecapacity value A which specifies the physically maximum usable number ofa capability characteristic as well as the threshold value B and usecounter C are, like the database mentioned at the beginning,semi-permanent.

[0055] The following relationship can be established between the usecounter C, the threshold value B and the capacity value A: A>=B>=C.

[0056] For an expanded use of the invention within the framework of thereseller concept mentioned there are two further semi-permanentvalues/counters—a further threshold value D1, D2 and a further usecounter E1, E2 provided for each exchange operator occurring in theexchange.

[0057] The further threshold value D1, D2 specifies the maximum numberof licensed uses of a capability characteristic F by a reseller inrespect of a further exchange operator and thus corresponds to a licensethreshold set by reseller. Any further threshold value D1, D2 can forexample be modified on the part of a manufacturer or the reseller.Changes can be made in ongoing operation by the relevant servicepersonnel in accordance with the license scope negotiated with therelevant exchange operator.

[0058] The further use counter E1, E2 specifies the number of capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3 actually used by the relevant exchangeoperator. The further use counter E1, E2 automatically adjusts itselffor use/creation of a capability characteristic F1, F2, F3 for acustomer of an exchange operator in exchange system.

[0059] In the case of reseller who provides a number of if exchangeoperators with capability characteristics F1, F2, F3, the use counter Cfor one of the skipper these capability characteristics F1, F2, F3corresponds to the sum of the further use counter E1, E2 which areassigned to this capability characteristic.

[0060] In general the following relationships between the individualcounters or values can be established$A \geq B \geq {\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{i}D_{n}} \geq {\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{i}E_{n}}$

[0061] and

[0062] D_(n)≧E_(n) for n=1, 2, . . .

[0063] In which A is the capacity value described above, E the thresholdvalue for the maximum use number, D_(n) the relevant reseller licensethreshold for a specified number of further exchange operators and E_(n)the reseller use counter belonging to the individual reseller or licensethresholds. Each command to create a capability characteristic F1, F2,F3 for a customer of an exchange operator increments use counters C, E1,E2 of the relevant capability characteristic F1, F2, A3 or of the groupG of capability characteristics F1, F2, F3. When the counter status ofthe further use counter E1, E2 exceeds the reseller license threshold Dthe corresponding command is rejected. Each command to delete acapability characteristic for a customer decrements the reseller usecounters E1, E2 accordingly.

[0064] When the license threshold of a reseller is reached in the use ofa capability characteristic further capacity can be obtained by deletingthose capability characteristics of this reseller to enable thesecapability characteristics F1, F2, F3 to be assigned to other customersof the same reseller. If necessary the reseller must have the licensesincreased by the exchange operator.

[0065] Another embodiment of the invention in accordance with FIG. 3consists of all capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 being enabledwithout restriction and of license monitoring and being undertaken onthe basis of periodical spot checks or memory dumps of switching systemVER. in this case the license threshold of a capability characteristicF1, F2, F3 is the same as the capacity value A which defines thephysically maximum possible number of uses of this capabilitycharacteristic F1, F2, F3.

[0066] If all capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 are enabled withoutrestriction, further capacity can be obtained for customers, as with theconcurrent license monitoring mentioned above, by deleting capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3, in order to assign these capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3 to other customers.

[0067] License monitoring on the basis of periodic spot checks is basedon the fact that a data collector on request or at specified intervalssearches through the semi-permanent database of the data bank of anexchange system VER for created capability characteristics F1, F2, F3.This data collector can be implemented in the form of a program thatrecords all the network operators, subscribers and exchange operatorsthat occur within the exchange. Furthermore the data collectorexplicitly knows all capability characteristics F1, F2, F3, that areimplemented within the exchange. In the data collector each capabilitycharacteristic F1, F2, F3 is represented by separate use counter C or,in case of a number of exchange operators, by a further use counter Ewhich specifies the number of current uses, i.e. the created capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3 or the groups G1, G2, G3 of capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3.

[0068] It is useful to collect the results of this database evaluationin a data table TAB1, of which an example is shown in FIG. 4, within theexchange. In this data table TAB1 each capability characteristic isrepresented by its use counters or its further use counters E1, E2.After complete evaluation of the database this data table TAB1 containsthe complete information about all capability characteristics ofswitching system VER used at the time that the data was dumped.

[0069] Data table TAB1 can be extracted for further evaluation onto anexternal storage medium EXT or transmitted via a data link to othertelecommunications systems TEK, for example a computer.

[0070] The number of uses determined from data table TAB1, thecapability characteristics F1, F2, F3 subject to a license or the groupsG1, G2, G3 of capability characteristics F1, F2, F3 subject to a licensethen form the basis for calculating the license fees. Data table TAB1 ina manner of speaking represents a snapshot of the capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3 of the exchange VER which is subject to alicense. The frequency with which this data table TAB1 is created and isextracted from exchange by the manufacturer is basically subject to anagreement between the exchange operator(s) and the manufacturer.

[0071] The procedure just described for monitoring capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3 which are subject to a license is based onthe practical assumption that the number of created capabilitycharacteristics F1, F2, F3 remains approximately constant in the periodbetween two data dumps.

[0072] An advantage of the invention is that capability characteristicsF which is subject to a license are billed in the switching systems inaccordance with their actual use.

1. Method for managing at least one capability characteristic (F1, F2,F3) or at least one group (G1, G2, G3) of capability characteristics(F1, F2, F3) which is subject to a license of a switching system (VER)of a telecommunications network (NET), characterized in that at leastone capability characteristic (F1, F2, F3) which is subject to a licenseand/or at least one group (G1, G2, G3) of capability characteristics(F1, F2, F3) which is subject to a license are each assigned at leastone use counter (C, E1, E2) which specifies the current number of usesof the capability characteristic (F1, F2, F3) or the group (G1, G2, G3)of capability characteristics (F1, F2, F3).
 2. Method according to claim1, characterized in that the use counter (C, E1, E2) is compared with atleast one threshold value (B, D1, D2) and if this threshold value (B,D1, D2) is exceeded, no further uses of this capability characteristic(F1, F2, F3) and/or the group (G1, G2, G3) of capability characteristics(F1, F2, F3) are allowed.
 3. Method according to claim 2 characterizedin that the threshold value (B, D1, D2) is compared with a capacityvalue (A) which specifies the physically maximum possible use number ofthe capability characteristic (F1, F2, F3) and/or the group (G1, G2, G3)of capability characteristics (F1, F2, F3) in the switching system(VER).
 4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in thatthe current value of the use counter (C, E1, E2) and/or informationabout the capability characteristics (F1, F2, F3) assigned to the usecounter and/or the group (G1, G2, G3) of capability characteristics (F1,F2, F3) assigned to the use counter within the switching system (VER) iscreated in the form of data.
 5. Method according to claim 4characterized in that the data is buffered within the switching system(VER) at specifiable intervals.
 6. Method according to claim 4 or 5characterized in that a data table (TAB, TAB1) is created from the data7. Method according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterized in thatthe data is dumped onto an external storage medium (EXT)
 8. Methodaccording to one of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the data isexchanged between the switching system and a telecommunications terminalover a data link.
 9. Switching system (VER) of a telecommunicationsnetwork (NET), whereby at least one capability characteristic (F1, F2,F3) or at least one group (G1, G2, G3) of capability characteristics(F1, F2, F3) which is subject to a license is implemented in theswitching system and the switching system is arranged to manage at leastone capability characteristic (F1, F2, F3) or at least one group (G1,G2, G3) of capability characteristics (F1, F2, F3), characterized inthat at least one capability characteristic (F1, F2, F3) which issubject to a license and/or at least one group (G1, G2, G3) ofcapability characteristics (F1, F2, F3) which is subject to a license isassigned at least one use counter (C, E1, E2) in the switching system(VER) which specifies the current number of uses of the capabilitycharacteristic (F1, F2, F3) which is subject to a license or the group(G1, G2, G3) of capability characteristics (F1, F2, F3) which is subjectto a license.
 10. Switching system according to claim 9, characterizedin that it is arranged to compare the use counter (C, E1, E2) to atleast one threshold value (B, D1, D2) and when this threshold value (B)is exceeded by the use counter (C, E1, E2) no further uses of thiscapability characteristic (F1, F2, F3) and/or the group (G1, G2, G3) ofcapability characteristics (F1, F2, F3) are allowed.
 11. Switchingsystem according to claim 10 characterized in that it is arranged tocompare the threshold value (B, D1, D2) to a capacity value (A) whichspecifies the physically maximum possible use number of the capabilitycharacteristic (F1, F2, F3) and/or the group (G1, G2, G3) of capabilitycharacteristics (F1, F2, F3).
 12. Switching system according to one ofthe claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it is arranged to create thecurrent value of the use counter (C, E1, E2) and/or information aboutthe capability characteristics (F1, F2, F3) assigned to the use counterand/or the group of capability characteristics (F) assigned to the usecounter (C, E1, E2) in the form of data.
 13. Switching system accordingto claim 12 characterized in that it is arranged to buffer the data atspecified intervals.
 14. Switching system according to claim 12 or 13,characterized in that it is arranged to create a data table (TAB, TAB1)from the data
 15. Switching system according to one of the claims 12 to14, characterized in that it is arranged to transfer the data onto anexternal storage medium (EXT)
 16. Switching system according to one ofthe claims 12 to 15, characterized in that it is arranged to transferthe buffered data to a telecommunications terminal via a data link.